Frank Exchange: Norman Rockwell’s portrait of Frank Sinatra fetches big bucks

Norman Rockwell, the renowned painter and illustrator best known for the popular covers of American culture he created for New York’s The Saturday Evening Post, was again the talk of the town when one of his works – Sinatra: An American Classic – was the most sought-after lot at Sotheby’s Lady Blue Eyes: The Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra auction. When the gavel finally dropped on his 1973 oil canvas painting of the beloved singer, actor and hell-raiser, the winning bid – after a heated six-way battle – was US$687,000, nearly six times its US$120,000 reserve price.

Initially published in conjunction with an article of the same title (a work by his long-term friend and collaborator, Rosalind Russell) in a 1973 edition of the Ladies Home Journal, the original Frank Sinatra portrait spans 47.6cm x 33cm and was one of the last paintings Rockwell completed before his death in 1978. As well as the many years he spent working as a magazine illustrator, Rockwell was also known for his portraits of notable American celebrities and politicians, including John F Kennedy, John Wayne and Ronald Reagan. What makes the Frank Sinatra portrait so unique, though, is its vibrant green background, as most of Rockwell’s works were predominantly grey. Maybe Frank insisted he did it his way.

Going, going, gone: Announcing 2019’s most interesting auctions so far

Despite setting new records last year, one would be ill-advised to ignore the onslaught of reports that the auction houses of the world are increasingly suffering the symptoms of decline. Indeed, last year jewellery sales were down by a whopping 17.6 percent, with Christie’s sales falling by 11.5 percent and Sotheby’s by 25 percent.

However, it wasn’t all bad… gavels still dropped and collectors still locked horns to outbid each other. In fact, 2019 seems to be off to a not-so-shabby start with George Michael’s Collection coming up next month at Christie’s – a sure treat for any modern art collector.

Below are the most interesting auctions of 2019 thus far…

A not-so-pretty penny sold for a pretty extraordinary price of US$204,000 last month at a Florida auction. What made the value jump from $0.01 to over six figures, you ask? Well, this particular penny is indeed rare as it was mistakenly minted in bronze rather than steel, and with only 10 to 15 of these accidental pennies said to exist in the whole world, making it wholly worthy of its astounding price. The seller, Don Lutes, is believed to have originally found the lucky Lincoln coin inside his pocket after being handed over loose change from his school cafeteria way back in 1947. Now that’s what we call lunch money.

interesting auctions — Andy Warhol – Orangutan (from Endangered Species) 1983 | Photo Credit: Artnet

A range of iconic American pop artist Andy Warhol’s paintings went under the hammer earlier this month, the priciest piece turning out to be a painting titled Orangutan (from Endangered Species) 1983 which fetched US$150,000 – more than double its estimated sale price of US$60,000. Orangutan stood out from the rest of the lot due to Warhol’s own curiosity in the animal and the unique idea to draw the ill-fated ape in an upbeat and colourful manner to help propel the species towards stardom and hopefully save it from extinction. Only 30 trial proofs were created, making this signed screenprint a delightful addition to any collector’s home.

Fans of American skateboarding and streetwear brand Supreme were delighted to bid on the entire full set of decks created by the iconic brand, dating back to 1998. The 248 skateboards set a record at US$800,000 for the whole shabang, definitely a more expensive hobby than your teenage son would have you believe twenty-some odd years ago…

Cows certainly made headlines last week as an US Angus bull set new records with its sale at a cool US $1.51 million in North Dakota on Friday. The fancy bull was none other than SAV America 8018, who despite his stout figure is barely over a year old, not bad for a man just barely out of his calf years. Mr 8018 will soon be heading to his new farm in Nebraska with his new owners Herbster Angus Farms; we think its fair to assume while he may be one, he won’t be taking any bull.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Snuff Said: Antique box office bonanza for Christie’s HK

Those who believed that boxes were just a necessary evil when it came to carting crockery to a new location or an unwanted barrier that increased the time taken to get to a gift, hopefully found the recent Gold Boxes in Asia auction something of an education. Hosted by Christie’s Hong Kong, it was the first time the house had staged a sale solely dedicated to such remarkable receptacles.

Top of the bill was a bejewelled, enamelled automatic snuff music box. Dating back to the 19th century and created by Guidon, Gide & Blondet, one of the most celebrated of Swiss goldsmiths, it ultimately sold for HK$2.25 million. It was, however, just one of 75 lots on offer, all of which consisted of jewelled gold boxes of exceptional provenance, with most of themmade by the finest craftsmen of 18th / 19th century Europe.

Commenting on the success of the event, David McLachlan, Head of Christie’s Gold Boxes Department, said: “We previously only sold gold boxes through our Geneva office, but we’ve now extended this service to Hong Kong and Shanghai. This is largely because such items are now widely in demand across Asia.”

Rock and Scroll: Ancient Chinese scroll by Su Shi smashes auction record

A crucial chunk of classical Chinese history resurfaced during Christie’s Hong Kong’s recent Beyond Compare: A Thousand Years of the Literati Aesthetic auction, when an ancient Chinese scroll – Wood and Rock by Su Shi, an 11th century Chinese statesman and poet – came up for sale. It eventually went for more than HK$463 million (US$59 million), making it the most expensive object ever sold by Christie’s in Asia.

For those still stunned by the price tag, a little background information may make it a little more digestible. Su Shi – a writer, poet, painter, calligrapher and statesman – was, arguably, the single most important political and literary figure of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), a man who undoubtedly hugely enriched Chinese culture with his paintings, poems, essays and travelogues.

The scroll in question is said to be one of the great artist’s more mature works and depicts withered trees, grotesque rock formations and stormy seas all across an expansive of 27.2cm x 543cm canvas. Crucially testifying to its provenance, there is also an accompanying calligraphy courtesy of Mi Fu, a renowned painter and calligrapher himself, and a contemporary of Su Shi.

Mane Attraction: Lion emerald gets pride of place from Zambian mine

It was in October last year that word started to spread around Kagem, a Zambian emerald mine, that something truly sensational had been uncovered. That ‘something sensational’ turned out to be Inkalamu, a giant 5,655-carat emerald that stunned the haute joaillerie world with its size and clarity when it came up for sale at a Gemfields emerald auction in Singapore a few months later.

Fittingly, its name – Inkalamu – was taken from the local word for ‘lion’ and was chosen specifically to honour the internationally-recognised work the Zambian government has done to preserve the country’s dwindling lion population. Sadly, the gem itself is unlikely to enjoy a similar level of protection, with plans already in place to divide the lion emerald into a number of smaller jewels.

This, however, is not the first time that Kagem has surrendered a stone of such remarkable size and quality. Early in 2010, Gemfields uncovered a massive 6,225-carat emerald, which was catalogued as Insofu – ‘elephant’ in the local Bemba dialect – on account of its immense bulk. The mine, however, is seen as far from played out, with Zambia now regarded as the world’s principal supplier of new emeralds.

The Right Pick: Perfect Valentine’s Day Gifts for Men

While we don’t believe that you have to wait for 14 February to gift a special something to a special someone, in case you’re looking for that perfect Valentine’s Day gift for Mr. Right, here are some gift ideas you should definitely check out…

If your man loves exercise and outdoor sports, he’s probably already eyeing the Brompton Bicycle 20 Years in Asia Gold Edition. Striking black gloss components, including handlebar, stem, seat post and 16” wheels, alongside the black Brooks B17 saddle, handcrafted premium British leather make this any biker’s dream vehicle.

For the Jay Gatsby in your life, who loves to host extravagant parties, the Manhattan collection of wineware from Saint Louis’s 2018 Autumn Winter collection could be an ideal addition to his party accessories. Featuring the essential tools of mixology that help mix and enjoy cocktails at home among friends, the Manhattan collection ensures that happy hour starts at home.

Another Valentine’s Day gift that may hit the right note with gentlemen who enjoy a tipple or two would be the limited-edition Rémy Martin XO and VSOP collections. Two very special limited-edition boxes join Rémy Martin’s collection of swanky gift boxes created for refined tastemakers, including an exciting collaboration with American avant-garde artist Matt W. Moore.

Of course, there’s no wrong time to gift a fine timepiece to a discerning gentleman. Even better if the gentleman in question is an avid horologist, but even if he’s not, no fear, Franck Muller’s Vanguard 7 Days Power Reserve Skeleton will make him a fan in no time. Thanks to its open-faceted skeletal structure, architectural and geometric open-worked bridges are in full display, allowing one and all to admire its intricate mechanism.

For the modern jet-setting man, what could be a better Valentine’s day gift than Il Bisonte’s Travel Kit in cowhide leather? Coming from a true-blue Italian brand that stands for practical luxury and timeless trends, the travel kit includes a padded eye mask, a luggage tag, a cord wrap and a passport/card case wallet in black, red or nude.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Good Germs: New study shows bacteria may be the answer for art restoration

Contrary to the popular saying, “time heals all”, there are certain objects that are instead ravaged by time, for instance the beautiful ancient paintings that provide us a glimpse of the glorious yesteryears, of times Medieval and Renaissance, of kings and battles, and transports us to a bygone era for a little while.

However, many natural factors over the ages adversely affect the astounding relics of the world of yore, including sunlight, heat, humidity, and most unsurprisingly, bacteria. It’s no wonder then that it’s a constant battle against the elements that collectors and buyers are fighting as they try to keep their artifacts safe and intact. However, recent studies suggest that bacteria may be the answer for art restoration needs.

art restoration — Baroque master Carlo Bononi–the “Incoronazione della Vergine” (The Coronation of the Virgin) (Image: PLOS)

According to a new paper published in PLOS One, Italian researchers have found that several strains of bacteria – primarily Staphylococcus and Bacillus colonise different parts of the artwork based on the colours on the painting, probably because they consume the ingredients that make up those particular colour pigments. They also found out that while most microbes destroy the artwork, there are some others that could possibly be used to help in preservation. By adding spores of other strains of Bacillus subtilis, pumilus and megaterium, the malignant microbes and fungi are able to be destroyed.

The restoration proved successful with 17th-century oil canvas painting “Incoronazione ella Vergine” (The Coronation of the Virgin), which had suffered damage due to an earthquake back in 2012.

So, what does this mean for private art collectors? Well, it’s early to say if this bacterial solution can be made available commercially any time soon, as the study has only been released just last month. But if your patience is able to fight off bio-degradation, we’re sure your paintings can wait a bit longer too.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Dragon and On: Reptilian relic dragon ring remains unfaded and unjaded

The dragon, that most legendary of Chinese mythological creatures, has traditionally been associated with power and potency. Indeed, along with its ascendancy over all things elemental, the might and majesty of this winged wonder is said to be bestowed upon only the luckiest and most worthy of folks, surely a sign that the victor in a recent dragon-centric auction at Christie’s Hong Kong must, indeed, be of cast-iron character and undebatable demeanour.

Whatever their actual stature, they are fortunate indeed to have outbid all comers in pursuit of the 2,200-year-old Jade Dragon Ring, which ultimately went under the hammer for US$1.1 million (HK$7.9 million). Said to be one of the few extant artifacts from the time of the Warring States era, one of the less-edifying chapters in the saga of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-9AD), this astonishingly well-preserved 9.5cm-wide ring has somehow managed to maintain its exquisite design over the centuries, with just a touch of opaque white-coloured calcification. Say what you like about the Western Han, they knew a thing or two when it came to leaving a leitmotifed legacy.

Un-Pinkable: Pink diamond raw carat cost soars

Just when you thought the world of luxury living had few records left to break, with the holders of the Goldest Toilet, Most Jewel-Encrusted Beard Trimmer and Haute Couturest Wellies now all a matter of well-established public record, Harry Winston, the New York-headquartered purveyor of high-spec watches and bespoke jewellery items, came up with a claim to fame that effortlessly fuses the obscure with the opulent – the Highest Amount Ever Paid Per Carat for a Pink Diamond.

The record in question was set when the 86-year-old company made a successful bid of US$50 million for the 18.96-carat Pink Legacy diamond when it came up for auction at Christie’s Geneva. That’s a whopping US$2.6 million per carat fact, fans!

Set to be renamed – somewhat unimaginatively – the “Winston Pink Legacy”, the gem is said to be one of the few (if not the only) 10-carat-plus pink diamonds ever to be uncovered. Making it yet more unique still, it also boasts the very highest grade of colour intensity, making it a one-in-100,000 find even among the already ultra-rare pink diamonds themselves.

Rolls Royce Silver Wraith: Rare car sees accelerated bidding in Mumbai

A classic 1947 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith proved the star turn at India’s first-ever online bidding war for truly classic automobiles, as organised by AstaGuru, one of the country’s leading auction houses. In the end, this most luxurious of land vehicles went for a whopping US$247,216 (HK$1.9 million), with the winning bid – from an anonymous Mumbai-based businessman – accounting for nearly half of the sales’ total takings of around US$500,000.

A product of the immediate post-World War II boom period, the car reflected the optimism of the times, as well as the reborn love for the finest things life had to offer. This particular vehicle was actually an upgraded take on a 1939 model, complete with oodles of additional legroom and a judiciously-enhanced 30bHp engine.

Stashed below its magnificent blue paint job, the engine in question was a six-cylinder Bentley Mark 5, an internal combustion system said to be so smooth that it outperformed the most luxurious of limousines in terms of travel experience. With few such vehicles ever coming up for public sale, it’s really of little surprise that the expected bidding shifted up several gears.

Photo credit: AstaGuru